Shielded Fool

Warrior fighting for glory in the Colosseum of Fools. Warily approaches opponents with shield held high. That 'Colosseum' is a strange place where some bugs fight each other to the death and others watch. I don't understand such obscure rituals. If you venture in, stay on guard at all times.

Shielded Fools are enemies in Hollow Knight. They are shielded combatants who fight for glory in the Colosseum of Fools.^[1]

Behaviour and Tactics

Cautiously walks towards the Knight, raising its shield when they come close, which blocks any damage from the front (except for Spells). If the Knight moves too close, they may back off a few steps.

After taking a hit from the shield, or waiting long enough with the Knight in front of them, they will lunge forward followed by a slash. Occasionally they lunge and slash a second time. Their attacks are very telegraphed and can be dodged easily; the second swing is only slightly faster than the first one. Bait them into attacking, then counter-attack while they recover or jump over/dash through them and hit them from behind. When the player jumps above them while they are not attacking, they will use their shield to protect themselves from above.

Alternatively, since they will only raise their shield at a certain distance, ranged attacks such as Vengeful Spirit, Grubberfly's Elegy, and even Dash Slash can be used to dispose of them easily.

Using the Dream Nail on the shielded fool is a good way to gain full SOUL, especially when combined with Dream Wielder. This is especially useful in the Trial of the Fool, where it is easy to take lots of damage. This is good for reaching God Tamer with full SOUL and full health. It is recommended to save the Shielded Fool as the last enemy alive to attempt this.

Dream Nail Dialogue
In Warriors' Pit: ...Are we all Fools?... Corpses in Kingdom's Edge: ...Champion?... ...I was a champion... I won't die here... In Colosseum of Fools: I am the strongest! Fear me, warrior! I'll crush it into the dirt! You cannot harm me!

Location

This enemy is only found in the Colosseum of Fools, in all of the three trials.

Gallery

Compendium
Main Game	Crawlid • Vengefly • Vengefly King • Gruzzer • Gruz Mother • Tiktik • Aspid Hunter • Aspid Mother • Aspid Hatchling • Goam • Wandering Husk • Husk Hornhead • Leaping Husk • Husk Bully • Husk Warrior • Husk Guard • Entombed Husk • False Knight • Maggot • Menderbug • Lifeseed • Baldur • Elder Baldur Mosscreep • Mossfly • Mosskin • Volatile Mosskin • Fool Eater • Squit • Obble • Gulka • Maskfly • Moss Charger • Massive Moss Charger • Moss Knight • Mossy Vagabond • Durandoo • Duranda • Aluba Charged Lumafly • Uoma • Ooma • Uumuu Ambloom • Fungling • Fungoon • Sporg • Fungified Husk • Shrumeling • Shrumal Warrior • Shrumal Ogre • Mantis Youth • Mantis Warrior • Mantis Lords Husk Sentry • Heavy Sentry • Winged Sentry • Lance Sentry • Mistake • Folly • Soul Twister • Soul Warrior • Soul Master • Husk Dandy • Cowardly Husk • Gluttonous Husk • Gorgeous Husk • Great Husk Sentry • Watcher Knight • The Collector Belfly • Pilflip • Hwurmp • Bluggsac • Dung Defender • Flukefey • Flukemon • Flukemarm Shardmite • Glimback • Crystal Hunter • Crystal Crawler • Husk Miner • Crystallised Husk • Crystal Guardian Furious Vengefly • Volatile Gruzzer • Violent Husk • Slobbering Husk Dirtcarver • Carver Hatcher • Garpede • Corpse Creeper • Deepling • Deephunter • Little Weaver • Stalking Devout • Nosk Shadow Creeper • Lesser Mawlek • Mawlurk • Brooding Mawlek • Lightseed • Infected Balloon • Broken Vessel Boofly • Primal Aspid • Hopper • Great Hopper • Grub Mimic • Hiveling • Hive Soldier • Hive Guardian • Husk Hive Spiny Husk • Loodle • Mantis Petra • Mantis Traitor • Traitor Lord Sharp Baldur • Armoured Squit • Battle Obble • Oblobbles • Shielded Fool • Sturdy Fool • Winged Fool • Heavy Fool • Death Loodle • Volt Twister • Zote the Mighty • God Tamer Xero • Gorb • Elder Hu • Marmu • No Eyes • Galien • Markoth Wingmould • Royal Retainer • Kingsmould • Sibling • Void Tendrils Hornet • The Hollow Knight • The Radiance • Shade • Hunter's Mark	a
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Hidden Dreams		a
	Grey Prince Zote • Winged Zoteling • Hopping Zoteling • Volatile Zoteling • White Defender	a
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The Grimm Troupe		a
	Grimmkin Novice • Grimmkin Master • Grimmkin Nightmare • Grimm • Nightmare King Grimm • Seal of Binding	a
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Lifeblood		a
	Hive Knight	a
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Godmaster		a
	Flukemunga • Pale Lurker • Brothers Oro & Mato • Paintmaster Sheo • Great Nailsage Sly • Pure Vessel • Void Idol • Weathered Mask	a